Buick Regal EAssist Is $29,530; GS Turbo is $35,310
Here’s a tip: If you ever find yourself in a situation where the leader of a local street-racing/coordinated-driving-tractor-trailer-theft gang ever decides that you owe him a twelve-second car, an old W-body Buick Regal GS Supercharged is a good place to start. You’d be amazed how much power those old crapwagons can twist out. Just make sure you’re holding on to the steering wheel with both hands.
If, on the other hand, you’re just looking for a nice mid-sized sedan, GM’s pricing announcement today is likely to be of more interest. We have two models: the GS, which comes with a six-speed manual and may be kind of fast, and the eAssist, featuring a low-feature approach to hybrid tech which may leave the green crowd a bit furious.
The release says,
Regal with eAssist will start at $29,530, and Regal GS will start at $35,310; both prices include $860 in destination charges. The eAssist system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model, mated to a 2.4L Ecotec engine. Buick will continue to offer the base model without eAssist as well as the 2.0L turbo.
eAssist, in case you’re wondering, is the mild hybrid system previously discussed here on TTAC.
Regal with eAssist uses a variety of advanced technologies and body enhancements to deliver an EPA-rated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, the latter being unsurpassed by the higher-priced Lexus HS Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
Left unstated is the 41mpg city rating for the MKZ and the 35mpg city rating from the HS250. The price advantage, however, is legitimate: five grand cheaper than the Lincoln and Lexus.
The GS, on the other hand, offers 270hp/295 lb-ft of torque from the two-liter Ecotech turbo first seen in the Solstice and Sky. It has push-button start, adjustable damping, nineteen-inch alloys, and a buffed-out harmon/kardon sound system. Most interestingly, it debuts with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic won’t be around until later in the year.
When considering the Regal GS, try to forget the Infiniti G37, which drives the “right” wheels and offers more power for the same money. The Lexus IS350 is priced within a grand. Neither of these cars comes with a six-speed manual, however. The Infiniti G37 6MT is a separate model and it’s forty-one grand, minimum. Perhaps more troublingly, a base 328i six-speed sedan costs virtually the same as the Regal. Throw in the infamous BMW leasing rates, and ask yourself, Wouldn’t I really rather have a Bimmer?
More by Jack Baruth
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Personally I'm still waiting to see how fast a base Verano will be. A little larger than the Cruze, smaller than the Regal, and powered by a 2.4ltr eco-tech making around 170-180hp - that might be a sleeper.
I drove all these cars - Regal, TSX, G25, 325i, Sonata and Fusion/MKZ. I would say right away that TSX is the worst among them - steering is too light and impresize and chassis feels like driving Camry. G25 is not a bad car but is not comfortable - uncomfortable seat plus harsh ride. BMW 328i is well balanced comfortable with great seats and ergonomics and excellent chassis, but costs north to $40K if competitively optioned. BMW is the best car among these but steering is heavy and seating is low (which I like BTW) and it is also small. Regal is very solid car which need better engine, but it is high quality car and with solid German engineered chassis. Interior is well made and controls are pleasure to use but materials are not as high quality as in other luxury cars. Of all those cars MKZ has the best interior materials but ergonomics is strange and too many cheap bits from Fusion. Fusion and MKZ are nice cars but look outdated and will be replaced next year with new Mondeo platform. Comparing Regal to BMW - BMW is more expensive and has different feel - like heavy steering and low seating - in that aspect it is not for everyone. Regal is more mainstream - steering is good but considerably lighter than in BMW, seating is more upright and feels having more room, has larger trunk and so on - for many people it may be pluses. TSX is a joke - I do not want even to compare it to either BMW or Buick or Infiniti for that matter. Sonata can beat TSX I think. I there is choice I would choose Sonata over TSX.